Nigel Farage faced criticism during Prime Minister’s Questions for his earnings from additional work while questioning the adequacy of the minimum wage for young individuals. The leader of Reform UK has amassed over £1 million from secondary employment activities following the general election. Recently, he expressed skepticism about the current minimum wage for younger workers, suggesting it might be too high. This income supplements his annual MP salary of £93,904.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, standing in for Keir Starmer at PMQs, mocked Farage for his significant earnings as an ambassador for Direct Bullion, a precious metals and gold dealer. During the session, Labour MP Adam Thompson raised the issue of wage disparities, highlighting the substantial increase in the national minimum wage for young people compared to years past.
Lammy emphasized the disparity in income, questioning why someone like Farage, who earns substantially more, advocates for reducing the minimum wage for those earning far less. The Labour Party, in contrast, is focused on enhancing wages for young workers and ensuring opportunities for their advancement.
Over the past year, Farage has generated income from various sources, including speaking engagements, social media work, cameo video appearances, TV hosting for GB News, article writing, and his role as an ambassador for Direct Bullion.
During a press conference on Monday, Farage suggested that the minimum wage may be too high for younger workers, especially with the adjustment in the National Insurance Contribution threshold. He proposed a reevaluation of either the minimum wage or the NIC threshold.
At a previous Tory conference, Kemi Badenoch also raised concerns about the impact of the minimum wage on businesses, along with maternity pay, suggesting that these obligations place undue burdens on employers. Currently, the minimum wage stands at £7.55 for under-18s, £10 for 18 to 20-year-olds, and £12.21 for those aged 21 and above.